CHAPTER 86: WARMED HER MORE

Leia couldn’t sleep a wink that night. Her thoughts spun endlessly, replaying the passionate kiss she had shared with Lucien. It had been the second time, only this time, she hadn’t stopped him. She hadn’t turned away. It was her choice. And more than just the kiss, it was the things she said afterward... things she never would’ve voiced if she’d been thinking clearly.

As the faint glow of dawn crept through the window, the soft chirping of birds reached her ears. She shifted slightly, turning to face Lucien. He lay fast asleep and his features were relaxed and serene.

Her gaze lingered on him.

’How could he sleep so easily after what happened? Was his heart untouched by it? Did it not affect him the way it did to me? But he did say he admired me.’

Leia closed her eyes slowly, trying to block the questions tormenting her mind. But just then, she felt the gentle weight of his arm sliding around her waist. His body instinctively drew closer, and he nestled into her without waking.

She stayed still, her breath catching, and for a moment, she let herself give in to the comfort of his embrace. This warmth... it was something she silently longed for. So she leaned into him, pressing her body closer.

Finally, wrapped in his arms, her restless mind began to quiet, and sleep gently claimed her.

When Leia finally woke, the sunlight streaming through the curtains was much brighter than before. A soft groan escaped her lips as she turned to the other side, only to find the space beside her empty. Lucien was gone. Not just his presence, but even his scent had faded from the mattress, as though he had left hours ago.

She sat up slowly, blinking at the clock on the wall.

"Past eleven?" she murmured in surprise.

"Why hasn’t anyone woken me up?"

Dragging the covers aside, Leia stepped down from the bed, her bare feet touching the cool floor. Still half-lost in sleep, she moved to the washroom. After freshening up, she emerged wearing a bathrobe with her hair inside a towel.

Her eyes drifted toward the closet as she walked to it. A quiet sigh slipped past her lips.

"Leia, it was just the heat of the moment. You got swept away by his words. Don’t let it get to your head," she murmured to herself, trying to shake off the lingering emotions. "Today, I’ll focus on making friends in the pack."

With newfound resolve, she pulled open the closet and picked out a soft satin white top paired with a long black skirt. After slipping into the outfit, she moved to the vanity and sat down, reaching for her comb.

That’s when her eyes landed on a small folded note tucked beneath the hairbrush. Frowning slightly, she picked it up and unfolded the paper.

"Call me."

Two simple words. But her heart fluttered as if they held the weight of something far deeper.

It was Lucien’s handwriting.

Without thinking, she turned around and searched the bed. Her phone lay beneath a pillow, exactly where she had tossed it last night. She grabbed it with urgency, her fingers moving faster than her thoughts.

She called him, an eagerness in her actions that she never showed before.

The call connected, and Lucien’s deep voice poured through the speaker like warm honey.

"Leia, sorry for leaving you like that."

"Did you reach the palace?" she asked softly, tugging the towel off her damp hair and letting it fall over her shoulder.

"Not yet. Still about twenty minutes away," he replied, the sound of faint wind rustling in the background.

"Oh..." Leia hesitated, then added in a soft voice, "When did you leave? You should’ve woken me up. It’s already noon."

"You looked tired," Lucien said gently. "I didn’t want to disturb your sleep. I told my brothers, and the house staff, not to bother you either."

Leia blinked, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. That simple gesture, so unlike the version of him she had once feared, warmed her more than she expected.

"I hope you won’t go back to treating me coldly now," Lucien said. "And if anything happens, even the slightest thing, don’t hesitate to call me. I mean it."

He paused for a second before continuing, "My brothers are there too. If you need anything or step out of the house, just let them know. Or better yet, take one of them with you, just to be safe."

"Yeah, I know," Leia murmured softly. "I’ll hang up now. Take care."

Lucien smiled faintly as she ended the call, the warmth in her voice lingering in his ears. He lowered the phone and exhaled, a rare sense of calm settling over him.

From the front seat, Caleb glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "So... you and Leia are finally getting close, huh?"

Lucien leaned back, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Yeah," he admitted with a chuckle. "It all unfolded so unexpectedly. I can’t even pinpoint when it really began, but whatever it is... I like it."

Caleb raised an eyebrow, grinning slightly.

"Hopefully, Leia accepts you soon, Alpha," Caleb remarked with a teasing smile.

By now, the vehicle had approached the towering palace gates. The car slowed to a stop as one of the guards stepped forward, his eyes scanning the tinted window.

Lucien, seated in the back, leaned slightly forward into view.

The moment the guard recognized him, he straightened with a respectful nod and signaled to the others. The heavy gates creaked open, allowing the vehicle to roll inside the grand palace grounds.

The driver applied brakes on the car after some distance. Lucien stepped out from the backseat, tucking the button of his blazer while Caleb from the front seat. He took out two small cabin bags from the trunk and looked at the magnificent palace in front of them.

"Welcome, Alpha Lucien. I’ll lead you and your beta inside," said the valet, bowing his head slightly.